Highlight: Launch of a rural youth employment and migration project in West Africa

18/09/2012, Dakar, Senegal, sub-Saharan Africa

During four days in September, representatives of various organizations met with three research teams to discuss the issue of employment for rural youth and migration. They also set the parameters of the Emploi des jeunes ruraux et migration en Afrique de l’Ouest project, supported by IDRC and the Agence française de développement.

The workshop, held in Dakar from September 18 to 21, 2012, was attended by Senegal's Technical Advisor to the Prime Minister and the Employment Director representing the ministry of youth, professional training, and employment.

The workshop gave the researchers, decision-makers, private-sector and civil society stakeholders, and technical partners the chance to discuss proposed research topics, objectives, expected results, preferred methodologies, and the strategy necessary to influence policies.

The project brings together teams from the Initiative prospective agricole et rurale of Senegal (IPAR-Senegal) [agricultural and rural forecast initiative], the Centre d’études, de documentation et de recherches économiques et sociales (CEDRES) [Centre for economic and social study, documentation and research] in Burkina Faso, and MISELI, a Mali association for research and training in anthropology of local dynamics. The teams are made up of economists, anthropologists, sociologists, and statisticians, which made for in-depth and open debates.

The contributions of gender-based analysis experts from specialized institutions helped to provide a gender perspective for inclusion in the proposed research. The various teams were also able to agree on common methodologies, the schedule of activities, and on ways to involve the various stakeholders.

For more information on the workshop, consult the article published on the IPAR website (available in French only).